Power-driven rotary fan.



R. B. BURTON.

POWER DRIVEN ROTARY FAN. APPLICATION FILED Nov. 2. 191e.

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tiren eas naar nien RALPH B. BURTON, OF SCHENECTADY, .NEW YORK.

POWER-nerven neri-lar ran.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug.. 2li, ilil'l Application led November 2, 1916. Serial No.129,219.

vexplosion engines which are frequently started or stopped with a quitesudden acceleration or retardation of speed.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for cushioning andlessening' the suddenness of the application, of accelerating, orretarding forces when transmitted to the fan from an internal explosionengine to which it may be coupled, thereby lessening the stresses in thefrail fan structure; to reduce journal pressure in the fan and to lessenthe shock on the means for coupling the fan to the motor, and therebyreducing the tendency to break or wear the coupling means, whencomprising either a pair of gears, a chain, or belt.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter full set forth.

l the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a vertical longitudinalsectional detail elevation of a fany which embodies my invention andillustrates its construction i when adapted to be driven by an auto-Imobile engine, part of the fan being broken away to permit'making'anenlarged View;

Fig.' Q, a transverse 'sectional view taken on the plane A A, of Fig. l.

f My invention is ,herein exemplified in providing a cushioning andtransmitting means between the automobile` motor. driven gear l, and themotor cooling fan 2', which are mounted upon a spindle 3. The spindle isrotated by the gear fastened thereto, and

is pivotally supported by the ball bearings 3a, and 3b, which areembraced by a stationary support of usal construction, and which is,Ltherefore, no-tshown. The gear is coupled to and driven from an internaleX- plosion engine by means of a chain, belt, or gear, which are ofusual construction and, therefore, are not illustrated. The fan has apredetermil'led amount of spring resisted l rotation "upon the spindlejournal 3d. lt is positioned to resist thrust from the helical spring 4,by the washers 3e Aand the nut 3f.

notches formed in the bore of the supplementary disk, as illustrated andwhich is of usual construction. The fan 2, is interposed between thedisks so as to be driven by frictional contact therewith. The spring 4,.

v encircles the spindle, abuts against the supplementary disk, and isengaged therewith by the spring hook ta. A hook 4b, is also formed onthe opposite end of the sprin and enga es the corresponding hole formein the spindle flange 3g, so as to resiliently transmit torsional forcesfrom the spindle to the fan. The construction, as described, causes thedouble functioned helical spring 4, to drive the fan by friction, due toits compressive force. against the supplementarydisk, and also to drivethe fan by the torque resiliently transmitted by the spring from the'iange 3g, to the supplementary disk in a manner to permit apredetermined amount of spring resisted motion between the' spindlejournal 3d, and the fan. Furthermore, when the motor is suddenlystarted, a limited amount of slip will take place between the fan andthe disks.

When the motor is so suddenly started,

in a manner which by rapid acceleration would destroy a rigidly coupledfan, the gear 1, instantly rotates the spindle 3, at maximum speed; theinertness of the fan causes it to accelerate slowly and compen-l satefor the difference in speeds by slipping between the disks. The spring,during this period of lrapid acceleration, is twisted about its a'Xis anamount determined by its torsional resistance. The compressiveforce Aofthe spring is made sufficient to readily drive the fan, without slippingbetween the disks, after it has come to a speed corresponding to that ofthe motor speed.` Sudden changes of rotation and shocks from.

spring, and means for coupling the spring to the driving means and tothe disk so as to resilientiy transmit rotative forces to the fan, forthe purpose of guarding the fan Jreni injury due to a suddenacceleration or retardation of the driving ineans.

2. The combination of af driving spindle; a fan revoiubly journaedthereon; a Harige formed on the spindle; a helical spring encircling thespindle and abutting against the ange; a disk heid in irictionai contactwith the fan by the spring, and means for .fastening the spring to theange so as to lrations, or retardations ofl the driving spindle.

RALPH B BURTON. Witnesses:

CHAS. L. Hnismn, ELIZEBETH R. FINEGAN.

